Job Search

Define Your Career Goals

It’s important to have a clear understanding of your long-term career aspirations before diving into the job search. Understanding what you want in the long term helps you stay focused and ensures you’re applying for jobs that move you in the right direction.

• Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals: Think about where you want to be in the next 1-3 years and where you hope to be in 5 or 10 years. Your short-term goals should support your long-term aspirations. Whether it’s gaining specific experience, learning new skills, or moving up in your field, having defined goals will keep you motivated.
• Desired Job Titles and Industries: What job titles are you targeting? Which industries are you most interested in? Be specific about the roles that appeal to you and do some research to understand the typical career path in those roles.
• Skills and Experience Gaps: Are there any skills or experiences you still need to gain to achieve your goals? Identifying these gaps early on will help you stay proactive in acquiring them during your job search.

Identify Your Values and Priorities

Understanding your values is crucial when choosing a job. You need to know what matters most to you, both in your personal life and your career. Aligning your job search with these values will ensure greater job satisfaction and work-life balance in the long run.

• Work Environment: Do you prefer a collaborative, team-based environment, or do you thrive in independent work settings? Are you interested in working remotely or do you prefer in-person interactions?
• Company Culture: What kind of company culture are you looking for? Do you want to work for a company with a strong commitment to their employees? Are you interested in working for a company that values innovation, or one that offers a more traditional, structured environment?
• Impact and Purpose: Do you want to work for an organization that prioritizes social responsibility, sustainability, or causes that you care about? Many students today seek jobs where they can make a positive impact in the world, so it’s essential to understand what’s important to you.
• Work-Life Balance: How important is work-life balance to you? Consider the level of flexibility you want in terms of hours, location, and time off. This will help you filter job opportunities that align with your needs.

Understand the Job Market and Trends

Before diving into the job search, it’s helpful to understand the current state of the job market. Researching industry trends, emerging fields, and in-demand skills will help you target jobs that not only fit your experience but are also in demand.

• Industry Growth and Job Availability: Some industries are expanding rapidly, while others are shrinking. Research the job market to identify which industries are expected to grow in the coming years. This will allow you to align your skills and goals with promising job opportunities. A trusted resource from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that provides job outlooks, salary data, education requirements, and career details for hundreds of occupations is the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
• In-Demand Skills: Use the tools below to research the most in-demand skills in your field. By identifying these skills, you can target jobs that align with what employers are prioritizing.
  • O*NET Online: Provides detailed reports on occupations, including key skills and qualifications for each role.
  • LinkedIn Job Insights: LinkedIn offers insights into the skills most requested for various roles in your field. Look at job postings to identify recurring skills.
  • Industry Reports and Surveys: Many professional associations and job search platforms release reports on in-demand skills based on employer surveys and market trends.
• Economic Outlook: Research the general economic outlook for your field. Are there any economic trends or disruptions (such as automation, remote work, or globalization) affecting the availability of jobs in your desired field?

Set a Job Search Strategy

With a clear understanding of your skills, goals, and values, it’s time to create a strategic job search plan. This plan will guide your efforts and keep you organized throughout the process.

• Set Specific Job Search Goals: Determine how many hours per week you’ll dedicate to job searching. Set goals for the number of applications you want to submit each week, the companies you want to research, and the networking events you want to attend.
• Tailor Your Resumé and Application Materials: Customize your resumé and cover letters for each job you apply to. Use keywords from the job description to ensure your application is aligned with the role.

The final step in building your strategy is making sure you can keep track of your job search efforts. The best way to stay on track is to use a tool that organizes your applications. See the section below for our interactive Job Search Tracker.

Job Search: Finding the Right Opportunity

Once you’ve done the prep work, it’s time to jump into the actual job search process. Use these platforms and strategies to explore job openings, apply strategically, and get noticed by potential employers.

Job Search Engines

Once you’ve set up your Handshake profile, use the following platforms to broaden your job search and find opportunities across various industries:

Company Research: Finding the Right Fit

Before applying, research potential employers to ensure their culture, values, and opportunities align with your career goals. Here’s how to assess companies effectively:

• Company Reviews: Use platforms like Glassdoor and LinkedIn to explore employee reviews. These insights help you gauge company culture, work environment, and leadership style.
• Company Values and Mission: Research a company’s mission statement and social responsibility initiatives. Does the company align with your values? Do they focus on causes that resonate with you, like sustainability or diversity?
• Job Listings and Requirements: Review company websites and job listings to understand what types of roles they’re hiring for and the skills they prioritize.

How to Network Effectively

To network effectively, you need to build meaningful relationships and maintain a strong presence in your industry. Here are the best practices for successful networking:

• Set a Networking Goal: Aim to make 100 professional connections before you graduate. This will create a robust network that will support you throughout your career.
• Start with Existing Connections: Reach out to family, friends, professors, and UVU alumni. These personal connections can be valuable sources of advice, introductions, and referrals.
• Join Professional Organizations: Many industries have professional associations offering student memberships. These organizations host networking events, webinars, and conferences, providing ample opportunities to meet industry professionals.
• Informational Interviews: Reach out to professionals you admire and request informational interviews. These conversations can provide you with insights into their career path and help you build a personal connection.
• Engage on LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the ultimate professional networking tool. Make sure your profile is up-to-date and actively engage by liking, commenting, and sharing posts relevant to your industry.
• Pitch59: A digital business card platform that enables professionals to create interactive introductions, making networking easier and more impactful with a modern, shareable format.

Effective Networking at UVU

Recognizing and Avoiding Job Scams

Job scams are unfortunately common, especially for students and recent graduates. Scammers often target individuals who are eager to start their careers or gain experience, making it essential to be vigilant and cautious during your job search.

Here’s how to spot and avoid job scams:

Watch Out for Red Flags in Job Listings

Scam job postings often exhibit suspicious signs that can help you identify them. Be wary of any job listing that:

• Promises "Too Good to Be True" Pay: If the salary or benefits seem unusually high for the position or your level of experience, it's a red flag.
• Requires Upfront Payment or Fees: Legitimate employers do not ask for money upfront. Be cautious if you're asked to pay for training, materials, or background checks before you're officially hired.
• Vague or Generic Job Descriptions: If the job description is vague, doesn’t specify clear responsibilities, or uses generic language, it could be a scam. Scammers often post poorly written ads with minimal detail.
• Unusual Requests: Be wary of job offers that ask for sensitive information (e.g., your Social Security number, bank account details, or personal identification) early in the process.
• Offers Flexible or Work-from-Home Roles with Unclear Expectations: Be cautious when the job description doesn’t explain the work clearly, or it offers too much flexibility without clarifying responsibilities.
• Immediate Job Offers Without an Interview or Resumé Review: If an employer is eager to give you the job without reviewing your resumé, conducting an interview, or verifying your qualifications, this is a major warning sign. Legitimate employers will want to assess your experience and suitability before offering you a position.
• Unprofessional Communication: Be suspicious if the communication from the company is unprofessional—e.g., emails with informal language, lots of grammatical errors, from addresses that don’t match the company domain, or messages that don't follow proper business etiquette.

Common Scam Tactics to Be Aware Of

Scammers often use specific tactics to deceive job seekers and exploit their trust. These tactics may seem legitimate at first but are designed to exploit you. Watch out for the following signs:

• The Employer Claims to Be "Out of the Country": Scammers may claim to be based abroad and need someone in the U.S. to handle tasks like receiving wire transfers or processing payments. This is a classic tactic used in money-laundering schemes.
• Requests for Wire Transfers or Money Handling: If the job involves receiving or processing money on behalf of the employer, especially with no clear responsibilities or defined role, it is almost certainly a scam. These scams typically involve the job seeker unwittingly participating in illegal financial transactions.

Trust Your Instincts

If something feels off, trust your instincts. Don’t hesitate to ask for more details or even walk away if something doesn’t seem right.

How to Protect Yourself from Job Scams

• Use Trusted Job Platforms: Stick to well-known and trusted job boards like Handshake, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor. These platforms have security measures in place to help prevent scammers from posting fraudulent listings. However, they aren’t foolproof so you will still want to effectively evaluate each job listing.
• Verify Contact Information: If you're unsure about the legitimacy of a job offer, contact the company directly using official contact details found on their website to confirm that they posted the job.
• Don’t Share Sensitive Information: Never share personal or financial details (e.g., bank account information, credit card numbers) with a prospective employer unless you are sure the company is legitimate.

Report Job Scams

If you encounter a job scam or suspect a fraudulent posting, report it to the platform where the job was listed (such as Handshake, Indeed, or LinkedIn). Additionally, you can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your local consumer protection agency.